New Tropical Tank

[geg74]

Hi Everyone,

I hope i have a long lasting chats on this forum for years to come. I am currently looking to buy a Tropical fish tank, i want to do it properly so looking for ideas of what type of tank to buy. The fish within the tank would consist of discus as these are absolutely beautiful fish. So thats where i want to start. Can anyone help please, as i was looking at a fluval roma 240 but i am unsure if its suitable.

 

[Zikofski]

Hello welcome to the world of
Fish keeping and I'm. Sure we will help you along your path as theyhavr helped me .

I can't awnser any questions that you awnser yet but take a look at the beginners guide especially cycling that's where most propel including me go wrong first time haha any questions you don't understand ask and well help I hope to see this. We tank in the future
happy Fish keeping

Zikofski

 

[Noahs ark6]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I think 240 litres is just on the verge of being able to keep discus, but you could just get away with it. 240 litres is a great size to start of with as the bigger the tank, the more water there is to dilute a problem should one occur, bigger tanks are slightly easier then small tanks. I have got the size down from the 240, and i absolutely love my fluval roma (seapets are cheap). Have you done research on what equiptment you'll need?. If you buy from seapets you get the heater, lights and filter included, however, i would suggest you sell the filter it comes with and buy an "external canister filter" especially if your keeping discus. There are two types of filter, internal, which sit in the tank, and external, which are boxes that sit outside the tank hidden from view with pipes leading to and from it. External filters are generally better, as there is alot more filter media (sponge, ceramic rings and carbon) that can go in it to house the bacteria (see beginers resource centre). External filters are more expensive but you'll defineately see the benefits a few months down the line. There are three things that you dont want in the aquarium. Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia. A test kit is helpfull to measure these levels to make sure they arent too high (ammonia is especially toxic to your fish). Weekly water changes (removel of aquarium water with the additions of tap water that has been dechlorinated) should be done every week. In a 240 litre with discus i would say %50 of the water a week. Chlorine is also very bad for fish, it burns there slime coat and causes stress and ultimately death. Water companys put chlorine in there water to kill viruses and bacteria. To get chlorine out of the water there is a product available called "dechlorinater" it's essential you use this for the well being of your fish (instructions on how much to use are on the box). Any more questions feel free to ask

 

[geg74]

Thanks for that,

I have had marine fish in the past, so well aware of the kits and filter media etc, but tropical is completely different, just asking if discus would be a bad choice, i do like their look but open to suggestions i.e catfish, sharks, puffers don't know much about the different types yet but must get the correct size tank first, i was going to get a roma 200 but i do not like the internal filter that comes with it. Do you have any suggestions as to what type of fish would go with those types of fish. As i think discus could be hard to keep.

 

[Noahs ark6]

240 gives alot of choice. Have you looked at angelfish? Bristlenose catfish, rams, rainbowfish, larger gouramis (eg blue gouramis). I would be carefull with sharks as some cant be kept in a community tank and can be quite tempromental. Are you wanting a communtiy tank or a specie tank?